Spotswood High School Teacher Accused Of Sending Inappropriate Texts To Student

SPOTSWOOD — A Spotswood High School math teacher has been arrested and charged with sending inappropriate text messages to a 17-year-old female student, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and Spotswood Police Chief Karl G. Martin announced Monday.

Thomas Ivan, 58, of the Somerset section of Franklin Township, was arrested and charged with one fourth degree count of endangering the welfare of a child on Dec. 17. After the charge was filed, Ivan was released on his own recognizance, authorities said. He must not have any contact with the victim and is not permitted to return to the school.

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Ivan was charged after an investigation by Detective Les Genovese of the Spotswood Police Department and Investigator Andreea Capraru of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that the defendant exchanged sexually explicit text messages with the student between Dec. 14 and Dec. 17, authorities said. Police began the investigation when friends of the victim notified school authorities.

Ivan has been teaching at Spotswood High School since January 2003.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on this, or similar incidents, to call Detective Genovese of the Spotswood Police Department at 1-732-251-2121, or Investigator Capraru at 1-732- 745-3600.